Sprouting Flames of Shadows

Chapter 6-Meet The Brother. Both Of Them

"Cosimo! " Whitney cried as the man put her down. The moment her feet touched the ground, she rushed in for a hug and squeezed him tight. "Man I've missed you!"

He made a sound like he was in pain, and she drew back.

"I knew it." She muttered, looking at his torso. There was a patch of dark red liquid soaking his shirt. "You really know how to get hurt, don't you?"

"Yeah…" He replied, and winced. She sighed.

"Alright, com'ere." She ordered, and wrapped one of his arms around her shoulders to support him. She heard footsteps behind her, and the two turned around. It was Rin, with Yukio in tow.

"White, are you okay?" Rin asked, worry on his face.

"Yeah, I was caught by this fella." She replied, looking at said person. Rin panicked and shoved his tail out of sight.

"Too late." Cosimo wheezed. "I already saw."

"Eep!"

"White, who is this?" Yukio asked, frowning in suspicion.

"Guys, this is my brother, Cosimo." She answered, and glanced back at them, her eyes pleading. "And he's hurt. Badly."

White lent back in her chair and sighed.

"He's fine, but he just needs to rest." She announced, much to the relief of the twins. It had been an intense half-hour. They had just been lucky enough that White knew first aid, and how to treat his injuries. Cosimo groaned and sat up in the bed he was given, the second one in White's room.

"It's about time. I was getting impatient." He complained playfully.

"Oh shut it, Cosimo." White ordered, but she smiled as she said it.

"So how did that happen, anyway?" Rin asked from his place standing at the foot of the bed.

"I was just visiting my sister, when I got jumped in the alley." He explained, and his younger sister rolled her eyes. "I fought them off, but they seemed to have gotten me at some point."

"Well then let's go find those suckers!" Rin exclaimed.

"No." White said sternly, looking at him.

"What, why?"

"Because I said so." She stood and stretched. "Cosimo's fine, and that's what matters." Rin and Yukio exchanged glances, before shrugging.

"Alright, but if there's anything you need…"

"We'll be fine." White assured. And with that, they left. She checked that the door was closed, listening as the footsteps faded. Then she turned to Cosimo, daggers in her eyes. He sweatdropped.

"What the hell were you thinking!?" She yelled. "'Getting jumped in the alley', what kind of excuse it that!?"

"Hey, in my defense, I didn't have a choice. My twin sent me here."

"He did what!?"

"...Oh. Was that not the best thing to say?" He asked, recoiling slightly.

"So not only did he send me here to find the son of Satan, but he put his own twins life on the line as well!?"

"Pretty much."

"How are are you so calm about this, Cosimo!?" White cried. "He could have killed you!"

"Hey, this is our brother we're talking about. You have to admit, it's not that surprising." She sighed.

"Yeah, I suppose." She admitted.

"Oh ho! Is our Whitney admitting defeat!?" He teased. She gently whacked him on the arm.

"I am not!" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And don't call me that. You know only your twin does that."

"Yeah, I know." Suddenly he doubled over in pain, letting a small groan escape. White immediately panicked.

"Cosimo! Oh my god, are you okay!? O stercore opus medicinae auxilium evocabo an-" Cosimo cut her off by beginning to laugh. (Translation: Oh shit you need medical help, I'll call an-) This only succeed by freaking her out even more.

"Ah Deus, quid agatur!? Videretur, Cosmi es de stercore pavidas me!" (Translation: Oh god, what is happening!? Stop it, Cosimo, you're scaring the shit out of me!) Cosimo threw back his head and laughed, wiping a tear from his eye.

"Oh seriously, White. I got you good!"

"Cosimo!" She growled, but it was impossible to stay mad at him She snatched up her phone and some earphones. "Whatever. I'm gonna go blow of some steam." She popped the plugs into her ears, a sign she wasn't listening. He grinned and tugged one out, listening to the music pouring out of it.

"'Mystery of the Invisible' by Veridia." He commented. "I see your taste in music hasn't changed." White snorted.

"Please. Like you know any other good music." She retorted jokingly, smiling as she said it.

"I do, actually." She raised her eyebrows in mild surprise.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. 'Lone Ranger' by Rachel Platen."

"I'll have to check it out sometime." She quickly pulled on a light jumper. "Until then, be good, 'kay?" Cosimo gave a short wave.

"Yeah, yeah. Don't you worry your pretty little head about me. I'm stuck in bed, remember?" He reminded. White smiled, and strode out the door.

She nearly crashed into Rin in the hallway.

"Oh, what are you doing here?" She asked stupidly, completely forgetting that they shared the dorm. He gave her an odd look as she flushed with embarrassment.

"Sorry, that was stupid of me."

"No no, it's fine." He insisted. "Actually, I heard shouting. Is everything okay?"

"Oh yeah, everything's perfect." She assured. "Just a little sibling overprotectiveness. He was always the one getting hurt." He nodded.

"Ah." He noticed her getup. "Going somewhere?" He asked. White's eyes widened, her sibling senses going off again. It was like little bells in the corner of her mind, reminding her of little faeries. They usually are quite peaceful, but this time it seemed urgent, almost giving her a headache. This could only mean one thing.

"Just a little run to clear my head, that's all." She replied, making a move to go past him. He blocked her way.

"Do you want me to come with?" He asked. She shook her head.

"I'm fine." She said stubbornly, pushing him aside. "Sorry, Rin." She said apologetically, before rushing down the hall.

He can't be here, not when she just found out. She wasn't ready, but then, when was she ever? But to come here, now, is illogical, stupid even. But after what he put Cosimo through, even though he knew it could have been fatal, he sure as hell was gonna pay.

She burst through the front doors of the dorm, not caring that they slammed against the wall. She broke into a sprint and ran the whole way to the town, dodging stray pedestrians and cars.

She nearly missed the turnoff, if it wasn't for her senses ringing at the last minute, chiming through her skull, giving her a pounding headache. It seemed he was calling her.

A tall figure stood at the end of the alley, black bangs covering his right eye as his left shone midnight blue. White smirked, and placed a hand on her hip as she watched him.

"Hello, Liam." She spat the word like it was poison in her mouth. "Fancy seeing you here."

I know what you're thinking. Stuff like:

Yes! Finally!

It's about damn time!

So that's what his name is!

Well I think you've waited long enough. I like slow-building stories, but honestly I'm bullshit at writing it. Hope the story so far was okay!